Lemon 🍋 Sorbet – Sorbetti di Limone
I would love an ice cream maker but loathe kitchen worktops cluttered with electrical gadgetry so aside from my trusty Magimix (my mother had one of the first models that cost a then princely sum and lasted over 25 years and aside from replacing the plastic bowl still worked until it was discarded in a move to a new house) and of course my Vitamix ( the worlds most expensive blender that you can read about here) I have no room in my life for anything more (though I am VERY tempted to find out more about the Revolutionary Thermomix!)
So it is with the Magimix that I make my sorbet (the recipe is from their cookbook circa 1981). Sorbet is the perfect pudding for a dinner party especially if , like us, you are a fan of cheese and biscuits… Refreshing, not too filling or sweet … And without sounding too pretentious… ‘a palate cleanser’
So when I made my Limoncello a couple of weeks ago using the zest of the lemons, rather than wasting the rest of the lemons I juiced all six and made a sorbet for over the festive period.
TIP : this will last in the freezer unopened for a month or so but once you have opened and served from the container you should use within a week as ice crystals form. Also homemade sorbets tend to defrost more quickly that shop bought versions.
Recipe
6-8 Lemons juiced (and zest of one lemon)
175g Sugar
300ml Water
2 Egg Whites
Dissolve the sugar in the water, bringing to a steady boil to create a syrup
Once sugar syrup is ready, leave to cool a little and then add Lemon juice and zest
Stir thoroughly and then pour into a plastic container and freeze.
TIP : use a large but shallow plastic container to speed up the freezing process
When frozen, remove from freezer – break into pieces and place in Magimix (or other food processor) – whizz to a creamy texture. In a large mixing bowl whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks and then fold in the lemon mixture, return to a plastic container and freeze until solid.
For a Christmassy variation you can make an Orange or Clementine version (it’s an orange version pre-final freeze that’s pictured above)